Friday, May 27, 2016

I have done this painting in smaller versions and always wanted to paint it larger. The painting started as a 12" x 16", plein air piece done on location in the forest but I was dissatisfied with the result. Months later, I went back into thepainting and simplified the shapes and colors and popped in the bright, citrine green that really "made" the painting. So for this larger version, I start with a sketch and then jump right into painting with the darks of the shale rock where the creek falls over the soft stone. I mix cerulean blue with cadmium red medium with a touch of cadmium yellow light to get the dark shale color.

Then I start to block in the darker greens of the forest foliage using various combinations of ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow light.

Okay, I'll admit, I got so entranced working on the painting, I forgot to take anymore pictures. I was also working into the night and have found photos don't turn out too good at night with the artificial lighting.

But I will tell you that the bright green is mixed using just the right ratio of cerulean blue and cadmium yellow light and titanium white to get that brilliant, eye popping color.

I wasn't too sure how the painting would work in the larger format but was absolutely thrilled with the result. The painting really captures in a visceral way the deep and luminous greens of the forest.

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Tuesday, May 24, 2016

On the right you can see photos of paintings I have painted in the past both "en plein air" and in the studio that I am using for reference and inspiration for this painting. I made a small pencil sketch in a sketchpad of the basic layout of the painting before I got started.

After drawing the design of the painting on the panel using a brush dipped in cold pressed linseed oil and primary red magenta, I start to block in the darkest darks of the forest and pools.

I start to add the middle values of the greens, earth, and flowers.

I continue blocking in the "ground" of the scene. I add the sky and the sky reflected in the pools. For the colors close to the horizon line, I mix the sky colors from Titanium White, Cadmium Red Light, and a touch of Cadmium Yellow to indicate a sky changing colors as dusk approaches. The upper part of the sky is painted using Cerulean Blue and Titatnium White. Both sky colors are blended for the transition. Some of the warmer, sunset colors are added to the pools.

I usually like to cover the entire panel with wet paint before I start to go in with the details. I start popping in the poppies and other flowers in the landscape.

I continue adding flowers and branches and other details working the entire surface, working both the background and the foreground at once.

Leaves and lilies and more details are added. Sharp edges are softened as needed.

More tweaking and fine tuning. I often stand back 10-20 feet from the painting to see how it is coming together. Sometimes I just sit in front of the painting, studying to see what it might need, making a dash of paint here and a dash there.

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This painting features coneflowers and Queens Anne's Lace with lovely, delicate colors. I start by blocking in the dark greens of the trees in the background and start popping in the earth colors and greens in the foreground.

I continue blocking in the earth tones and the greenery. I scratch in the outline of the bird bath using a nifty tool with a pointed rubber tip.

Details of the coneflowers and Queens Anne's Lace are added.

The birdbath didn't make it to the finished paintingwhich you can see here:

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Friday, May 6, 2016

I need to get some 12" x 12" flower paintings done for my upcoming show schedule. I juried in to some shows with just flowers so I need to make sure I have enough to fill my booth!

So this is a fun 12" x 12" with a creek, waterfall, poppies and hollyhocks.

I start with the darks and work to the light values.

I block in the greens and turquoise of the water on the creek.

I paint in the light of the sky last. Lightening a dark is much easier than trying to make a light dark! In fact, it is impossible to darken a light!

I start to add the details of the flowers - poppies, lilies, sunflowers, and coneflowers. I add the white water to the waterfall in the creek. I continue to work over the entire surface of the painting from teh background to the foreground and back again.